Fibonacci Sequence

5 minutes 5 Questions

The Fibonacci Sequence is an estimation method referencing a math sequence where each number is the sum of the two preceding ones, usually starting with 0 and 1. In Scrum, it's used as a way to estimate complexity or size. It provides a set of predefined values that the team can use to estimate sto…

Understanding the Fibonacci Sequence: A Complete Guide

Importance:
The Fibonacci Sequence, as a mathematical concept, has a wide range of applications in various sectors like computer algorithms, predicting natural patterns in botanical species, architecture, art, financial market analysis and many more. This emphasizes the need for a good understanding of the topic.

What it is:
The Fibonacci Sequence is a series of numbers where a number is the sum of the two numbers before it. It starts from 0 and 1, and the sequence goes: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and so on.

How it works:
Each number in the sequence is the sum of the previous two numbers. For example, 1 (0 + 1), 2 (1 + 1), 3 (1 + 2), 5 (2 + 3), and so on. In mathematical terms, the sequence is often defined with a recursive formula:
F(n) = F(n-1) + F(n-2) with initial conditions F(0)=0 and F(1)=1.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Fibonacci Sequence:
1. Understand the sequence: Familiarize yourself with the sequence and how it is constructed.
2. Practice the problems: Practice different types of problems based on the Fibonacci Sequence, including recursive problems. You can find many online resources for the same.
3. Be careful with the initial conditions: Always remember that the first two numbers are 0 and 1.
4. Use the formula if needed: For higher numbers, it might become time-consuming to add up all the previous numbers. In such cases, use the formula to save time and avoid mistakes.

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CSM - Fibonacci Sequence Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Fibonacci Sequence

Question 1

You are part of a scrum team that uses the Fibonacci sequence for story point estimation. A user story is considered to have a point of 1. The product owner suggests that a new story is twice as difficult and should be estimated as 2. What would be your response?

Suggest to use two 1-point story estimates instead of a 2-point estimate. Point out that a 2 is not part of the Fibonacci sequence and suggest to use the next number in the sequence i.e., 3. Use 1 point again and adjust workload later. Agree with the product owner and estimate the new story as 2.

Correct Answer: Agree with the product owner and estimate the new story as 2.

In Scrum, when using the Fibonacci sequence for story point estimation, the sequence includes numbers like 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc. Since 2 is part of the Fibonacci sequence, it's appropriate to estimate the new story as 2 if it's twice as difficult as a 1-point story. Therefore, agreeing with the product owner and estimating the new story as 2 is the correct response.

Question 2

During a backlog refinement session, the team is estimating a user story using the Fibonacci sequence. The team is split between estimating the story as a 3 or a 5. What would be the most appropriate next step for the Scrum Master?

Facilitate further discussion to understand the differing perspectives and reach a consensus Suggest the team proceeds with the higher estimate of 5 points to accommodate for any potential risks or uncertainties Advise the Product Owner to make the final decision on the estimate based on business value Encourage the team to compromise and assign an estimate of 4 points to the user story

Correct Answer: Facilitate further discussion to understand the differing perspectives and reach a consensus

In a Scrum estimation session, the goal is to achieve a shared understanding and consensus among the team members. When there is a split in the estimates, the Scrum Master should facilitate further discussion to understand the differing perspectives and help the team reach a consensus. This allows the team to share their insights, clarify assumptions, and align on a common understanding of the user story's complexity. Compromising on an estimate that falls outside the Fibonacci sequence goes against the purpose of using that estimation scale. The Product Owner should not make the final decision on the estimate, as it is the development team's responsibility to provide the estimates based on their understanding of the work involved. Automatically defaulting to the higher estimate without further discussion may lead to overestimation and does not address the underlying reasons for the differing opinions.

Question 3

The team is struggling to estimate their backlog. They have been using Fibonacci sequence for estimation. What could be a potential problem?

Their understanding of value behind Fibonacci numbers may not be clear. They have too many user stories. They are using the wrong estimation sequence. The Product Owner is not providing enough guidance.

Correct Answer: Their understanding of value behind Fibonacci numbers may not be clear.

The best answer suggests that the team might not fully understand the value behind the Fibonacci numbers used in the estimation process. Agile teams often use Fibonacci sequence to estimate the complexity of tasks because it reflects the uncertainty that increases with the size of the task. If team members don't quite grasp this concept, they may indeed struggle to estimate their backlog. Now, as for the other answers: suggesting the team is using the wrong estimation sequence is incorrect as Fibonacci is a widely accepted method in Agile environments. Saying the team has too many user stories points to a problem with backlog management rather than estimation. Lastly, while lack of guidance from the Product Owner might pose problems in some situations, it does not necessarily directly relate to issues with backlog estimation.

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